Variable-speed driving mechanism



A. HOFFBAUEH.

VARIABLE SPEED omvme MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-14,1920.

Patented Max: 21, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ALFRED HOFFBAUER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SUGAR REFINING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

JERSEY.

N. Y., A COR-POBATIONOF NEW VARIABLE-SPEED DRIVING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed August 14, 1920. Serial No. 403,594. I

T 0- aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED HOFFBAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Driving Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it 'appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a device adapted to produce variable movement of mechanism in which it is desirable that a part should travel at different velocities during selected portions of its cycle. The invention is particularly useful and desirable in connection with an operation of means for. washing the leaves of a filter, where the washing means is directed against varying areas of the leaves during the operation. It is to be understood, however, that the device hereinafter described, is not limited to the particular purpose set forth, but is of general application,

and may be employed in any connection where the result accomplished thereby is desired.

In order that the purpose may be clear, reference is made to the application of the device to a filter, which may consist of a roughly cylindrical chamber, having a plurality of leaves supported therein, and adaptedfor use in separating solids from liquids,

oscillated at a uniform angular velocity,the

washing of the leaves at the portions remote from the center willvlie much more thorough than at the central portion, where the area to betreated is considerably larger. To meet this difficulty, it has been customary heretofore, to provide the tube with a handle, and to employ a workman who is taught to manipulate the tube in such a manner that the rate of travel of the jets across the central portion of the leaves is considerably slower than the rate at 1.1116 extremities of the oscillation. The manipulation of the tube in this manner is somewhat diflicult, and because of the effort required, the workman is inclined to neglect his instructions, so that themethod employed is unsatisfactory both from the standpoint of results obtained, and of the cost of producing these results.

To meet this condition and to mechanically operate the washing tubes of one or more filters, it is desirable to provide means for imparting to the tubes the desired oscillating motion, that is, a comparatively rapid movement near the opposite ends of the oscillation with much slower movement during the middle period of travel. This result has been accomplished by the provision of substantially elliptical sprockets connected by suitable chains todriving and driven tion will be more clearly understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which- Fig; 1 is an elevation of the device illustrating the application thereof to a filter of the type referred to, and,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the shell or housing of a filter, which may contain a plurality of leaves 6, each connected to a suction means, (not shown) whereby liquid is withdrawn from the shell or casing, while the solids are deposited upon the leaves. The form and structure of the filter forms no part of the present invention and may be widely varied, and the illustration thereof herein, is merely for the purpose of clearly defining the problem which has been met and overcome by the present invention. As above noted, filters of the type referred to are provided with a tube 7 extending longitudinally thereof, and providedwith aplurality.v of nozzles 8, which direct streamsof a liquid, against the face of the filter leaves.

r on the The tube is connected througha stuffing box to a source of liquid for example water,

under the necessary pressure, so that the tube may oscillate under the actuating mech anism to deliver the jets to the filter while the tube is oscillating.

The device is supported on a frame 9 which may be disposed in any suitable relation to the filter and provides bearing supports for the shafts of the device. A

motor 10 may be supported on the frame;

although power from any source may be utilized. Preferably the motor is connected by a belt 11 to a pulley on a counter-shaft (not shown), and another pulley on the counter-shaft is connected by a belt 12 to a pulley 15, mounted on a shaft l t which is supported by bearings 15 on the frame. A, pinion 16 on the shaft 1d meshes with a gear 17 on a shaft 18, which is supported in bearings 19 spaced from the bearings 15 frame. The shaft 18 carries a sprocket 29 of the usual form, and a chain 21-coni1ects this sprocket to sprocket 22 which is substantially elliptical in form, and is mounted on a shaft 28. The shaft 23 is supported in bearings 24 spaced from the bearings 19 on the frame, and carries a sprocket 25 also substantially elliptical in form, and arranged with its longer axis substantially perpendicualr to the longer axis of the sprocket "22. A chain 26 con nects the spr0cket'25 to a sprocket 27 of the usual form supported on a shaft 28 which is mounted in bearings 29 spaced from the bearings l on the frame. 'The several pulleys, gears and sprockets are so proportioned as to impart to the shaft '28 the desired speed of rotation, and. the

provision of the elliptical sprockets 22 and 2-5 insuresthat the sprocket 27 will rotate at a non-uniform velocity, the angular veloeity'of the latter-sprocket being successively rapid and slow, in order that the de sired movement may be imparted to the washing'tubeof the filter. i

To apply this movement to the washing tube, the shaft28 is provided with'a crank 30, which is connected by a linkiii to a "lever- 32 pivoted at 33 on a depending lug 34-, for example, of the frame.

If a plurahty of washing tubes in a number of filters are tobeactuated in the manner defscribechthe' lever 32 11 12137 be connected to a reciprocating rod 35, preferably by'apin 86 which travels in a slot 37 in the lever. The rod 35 may be supported in suitable hangers 38, having rollers 39 to reduce friction. 7 As'it is desirable that the individual filters maybe disconnected from the rod from time to time, the latter is provided with links 4-0 pivoted atl, each having a pin 42, which is adapted to enter a recess near the end'ofa'n operating lever 43, connected tothe tube-7 of a filter. A locking device 14 is provided to prevent escape of the pin 4-2 from the recess in the lever l4.

lVhen the lever l3 is thus connected to the rod 35 the reciprocating motion of the rod is applied to the oscillationiof" the wash ing tube in the filter. The reciprocating movement of the rod, owing to the shape of the elliptical gears, is relatively rapid at the beginning and near the end of the stroke, but during the intermediate portion, the rate of travel is sufficiently slow to insure the delivery of the required amount of water to the filter leaves for the purpose of completely washing the material thereon. Thus the didicult manual actuation of the. washing tubes is avoided, and the tubesare oscillated with precise and absolute uniformity. The desired angular velocity of the tubes at any point during the oscillation may be readily determined, and the elliptical gears are so proportioned as to produce thisiesult. A relatively small amount of power is required to oscillate the tubes of a considerable number of filters, so that there is the advantage of reduced cost in maintaining the desired operation, in addition to the uniformity of the operation, the securing of which is the primaryobject of the invention. The invention mayfobviously be applied to the operation ofa sin gle washingtube or infact to the actuation of any mechanismin the manner described. 7

As will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing, the device herein described is simple in construction, so that it is adapted for successful operation without attention under the conditions prevailing in filter houses and like situations, The device may similarly be adapted for various purposes, and should therefore be considered as a mechanical" movement capable of converting rotational movement at uniform angular velocity into rotational orrectilinearmovement at variable velocity.

Various changes may be made in the form,

arrangement and construction of the parts,

without. departing from the invention or sacrificing any of 'the advantages thereof as hereinbefore set forth. 7' I claim:

1. A. mechanical movement adapted to convert rotationalmovement at uniform angular velocity into similar movementatjnonuniform angular velocity, includinga shaft,

a pair of elliptical sprockets on the shaft" with their-longer axes arranged in substantially perpendicular relation; means. for driving one of the sprockets, and means for transmitting movement of the other sprocket under theactuation of the driving mpansf 2. A mechanical movement adapted f to convert rotational movement at uniform an gular velocity into-similar movement at nonuniform angularvelocity, including apiuiao rality of shafts arranged in spaced relation, circular sprockets on two of the shafts, two substantially elliptical sprockets on another shaft, chains connecting the elliptical to the circular sprockets, means for imparting movement to one of the circular sprockets, and means for transmitting the movement of the remaining circular sprocket.

3. In a device for actuating the Washing tube of a filter and imparting oscillating movement to the tube at varying angular velocity, including a substantially elliptical sprocket, driving means connected thereto, and means for transmitting movement from the sprocket to the tube.

4. In a device for actuating the Washing tube of a filter, and imparting oscillating movement to the tube at varying angular velocity, including a shaft, a pair of substantially elliptical sprockets thereon, driving means connected to one of the sprockets, and means for transmitting the movement of the other sprocket to the. tube.

5. In adevice for actuating the Washing tubes of a plurality of filters, and imparting oscillating movement to the tubes at varying angular velocity, including a shaft, a pair of substantially elliptical sprockets thereon, o

means for actuating one of the sprockets, means for transmitting movement of the other sprocket to the respective tubes, and means whereby movement of any tube may be discontinued;

7. In a device for actuating the Washing tubes of a plurality of filters, and imparting oscillating movement to the tubes of varying angular velocity, including a shaft, a pair of substantially elliptical sprockets on the shaft with their longer axes arranged in substantially perpendicular relation, means for actuating one of the sprockets, and means for transmitting movement of the other sprocket to the respective tubes.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signa ture.

ALFRED HOFFBAUER. 

